Who's Funding New Worcester Super PAC? Donors From Business, Political Worlds

WORCESTER, MA — A new political action committee with strong ties to Worcester's business community raised close to $50,000 over just a few weeks this fall, receiving support from business interests and politicians across the state, according to a report filed Friday with the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance.

The new Progress Worcester PAC emerged last week when it began running ads supporting District 5 council candidate Jose Rivera and incumbent Mayor Joseph Petty Jr. The new filing shows the PAC spent over $9,500 on those two social media ads, but plans to spend much more before the Nov. 7 election, spokesman Gregory Maynard said last week.

The PAC still has more than $37,000 to spend over the three weeks leading up to Election Day thanks to donations made between Sept. 19 and Oct. 10 by 38 donors. Three of those donors — the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, Boston-based Winn Companies and the Worcester Business Development Corp. — donated $10,000 each. Although Winn is based in Boston, ex-Worcester city manager Michael O'Brien serves as the development firm's executive vice president. Winn also has several key developments in Worcester, including the Canal Lofts, the Voke Lofts and the planned Worcester Boys Club redevelopment.

The next $10,500 the PAC raised came from seven donors. The donors are no strangers to local politics, having previously donated to local elected officials, including incumbents endorsed by the Progress Worcester PAC this year like councilors Kate Toomey, Candy Mero-Carlson and Moe Bergman. The PAC has also endorsed Rivera, at-large candidate Guillermo Creamer and District 1 candidate David Peterson.

• Idiam LLC, $2,500 — This Millbury-based company is managed by John DiRenzo, owner of Direnzo Towing & Recovery. DiRenzo has been a key donor this year for Worcester candidates including incumbent councilors Donna Colorio, Toomey, Mero-Carlson and Petty.
• Hmyatim Ventures, $2,000 — This Shrewsbury-based company operates Yatco Energy convenience stores and gas stations and is managed by Yatco founder Hassan Yatim, who is also co-owner of the Worcester Pirates indoor football team. Yatim has also donated to Rivera, Toomey and Petty this year.
• Paxton Pest Control, $2,000 — The company, operated by Ryan Desrosiers, is a Worcester Chamber member.
• The Glodis Group. $1,000 — This Yarmouth-based company is managed by Guy Glodis, the former Worcester County sheriff, and a former state representative and senator. He also owned the Kelley Square bar The Ballot Box.
• Robert J Hennigan, $1,000 — A local attorney who focuses on real estate and development law, and was also hired by the Diocese of Worcester in 2022 to investigate claims that St. John's food program director William Riley sexually abused clients.
• Dennis Kerrigan, $1,000 — Kerrigan is a Worcester resident and attorney with Hanover Insurance Group. Kerrigan has also donated to Petty this year.
• Seth Derderian, $1,000 — Derderian owns Josephs Lock & Safe Co. This was his first donation of the 2023 election cycle, but he has previously donated to Worcester elected officials including Mero-Carlson, Petty, Toomey, At-Large Councilor Moe Bergman and Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr.

The remaining donors contributed just under $6,500 to the PAC, and include donors like Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis, former District 5 city councilor Matthew Wally amnd former lieutenant governor and Worcester Chamber President Tim Murray.

• Basement LLC, $500 — Managed by Joanna Bachour, owner of Meraki Coffee Dessert Bar.
• Craig Blais, Craig, $500 — Worcester Business Development Corp. president.
• Tre Baldini Inc., $500 — The corporation managed by Dawn Abbruzzese that operates Piccolo's Restaurant.
• John Roche, $500 — Hanover Insurance Group CEO.
• Wally, $500 — Former Worcester councilor and UniBank vice president.
• Elizabeth Proko, $500 — An organizer with Worcester Citizens for Business, a group that has advocated for a single tax rate.
• Elaine Evans, $250 — Elaine Evans Group real estate agent.
• Juan Gomez, $250 — A Fitchburg resident who's the executive director of Centro Las Americas. Gomez was also a Worcester councilor from 1993 to 2003.
• Jefferson Mararian, $250 — A Northborough resident and owner of Z&S Realty.
• Kenneth Sadowsky, $250 — An Auburn resident and senior advisor for the investment company Verlinvest.
• Richard Burke, $250 — An administrator with Fallon Health.
• Chris Collins, $250 — A Sterling resident and attorney with Mirick O'Connell.
• John Savickas, $250 — A former Worcester Art Museum trustee.
• Timothy Murray, $200 — Worcester Chamber president, former lieutenant governor.
• John Spillane, $200 — An attorney with Spillane & Spillane.
• Vincent Pedone, $125 — A former state House member and executive director of the State Universities of Massachusetts.

The remaining donors each gave $100: Gina Cariglia, owner of Gina's Hair Salon; Rubric Commercial senior associate Darnell Dunn; Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis; Garden Fresh Deli owner Dean Stamoulis (he gave two separate $100 donations); Capital Group Properties developer Robert Dipietri Jr.; EG Fisher Construction owner Edward Fisher; Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Vice President Catheryn McEvoy; Kelleher & Sadowsky real estate broker Chris Naff; Pagano Media owner Joseph Pagano; Atlas Distributing Vice President John Salois; and Noamesco Bar and Lounge manager Julius Kumah.

According to the founders, the mission of the Progress Worcester PAC is to focus on "building on Worcester's recent economic gains and supporting candidates who will champion the policies our community needs to continue improving: building more housing and creating more jobs."

Worcester's other main super PAC, Worcester Working Families, activated its advertising operation on Friday after the Petty and Rivera ads went live. The Worcester Working Families ads opposed Petty and Mero-Carlson, and a third ad implored voters to support the PAC's endorsed candidates, including Jenny Pacillo in District 1, Rob Bilotta in District 2, Etel Haxhiaj in District 5 and Nelly Medina, who's running for the District E school committee seat.

Worcester Working Families on Tuesday filed a campaign finance update, showing the committee had raised nearly $7,500 since Sept. 6. The bulk of the fundraising came from a single 6,757.59 donation from the campaign of Deb Hall, the CEO of the YWCA of Central Massachusetts, who explored a city council run in 2021.

The PAC spent nearly $6,500 between Oct. 20 and 23 to support its slate of candidates. The money went toward mail pieces and Facebook advertisements.

The PAC was formed in 2020 to support "candidates who advocate for intersectional policies
that lift up all working families, and oppose candidates that do not." Unlike Progress Worcster, the PAC was involved in the preliminary elections this year, spending about $675 to support its endorsed candidates, and to oppose Mero-Carlson and Rivera.